South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol may visit Manila this year or early next year as the Philippines and South Korea mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. President Marcos accepts the credentials of South Korean resident Ambassador-designate Lee Sang-hwa in Malacañang on Monday, July 10. (King Rodriguez/PPA Pool)
Malacañang said this was relayed by new South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during the former's [presentation of credentials](https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/10/marcos-wants-ph-sk-ties-to-grow-in-every-aspect) on Monday, July 10. “That’s exactly the point our President Yoon Suk Yeol mentioned to me at the credential ceremony in Seoul. He really, really looks forward to visiting this very country Philippines. But if not this year, I’m sure sometime in the first half of next year as we mark our 75th anniversary,” Lee told Marcos. The President said he also looks forward to meeting his South Korean counterpart during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in November. “Of course, there are many other conferences and I hope that maybe in November when we go to the United States for the APEC because I’m sure your President will attend, maybe we’ll have a chance to at least meet and have a bilateral meeting,” Marcos said. “But after that, I think both sides now will be able to plan better. It’s been a busy year because we just finished our first year of this administration. So slowly, slowly, we are beginning to find ways to adjust our schedules to all these very important events that we are going through,” he added. Lee also told the President that South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kin Jin-Pyo and the South Korean Foreign Minister will visit the country this year to meet their counterparts to further strengthen both countries' relations. “I think we can always look forward to a better future and stronger alliance,” Marcos expressed, especially in the post-pandemic world.

Security and defense

Marcos also mentioned regional developments such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) alliances which are taking a more dominant role in terms of security and defense. “It is the first time that we will have joint exercises with the ASEAN member nations. And slowly I think that this is starting to stabilize the security and defense situation in our region,” he noted. The South Korean ambassador concurred with the President, noting that “there are comprehensive regional strategy (as) ASEAN takes a centerstage and the Philippines strategic importance has heightened significantly.” “So we look forward to elevating our relationship formally to strategic partnership at an appropriate time including many, many areas security and defense cooperation, trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges,”  he stated. In terms of defense, among the Philippines’ key procurement projects from South Korea include two 2,600-ton multi-million frigates, 12 units of FA-50 aircrafts for the Philippine Air Force (PAF), and a Pohang-class corvette for the Philippine Navy. The defense department signed last year a P30-billion contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries for the purchase of six offshore patrol vessels for the Philippine Navy, with the first delivery in 2025.

Nuclear energy

Lee also reiterated South Korea’s commitment to the Philippines on energy cooperation, adding that his country is keenly interested in Bataan Nuclear Power Plant energy generation. “We presented, submitted our proposal for joint feasibility study,” he said. The Philippine-South Korea trade reached USD15.44 billion in 2022, with South Korea ranking as the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner. In the same period, exports were valued at $3.13 billion (7th largest export destination) and imports were valued at $12.31 billion (4th largest import source).